Manually and automatically operated fire-extinguishing apparatus



March 11, 1924; 1,486,363

J. CASH ET AL MANUALLY AND AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed. June 10 1922 A j Z Patented Wlar. ill, raga,

EAIVEES CASH AND LESLIE RICHARDS, SAN FTANQISCO, CQLIFOJ. LIA.

Application filed June 10 1922. Serial No. 557,329.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES CASH, a subject of Great Britain, and LESLIE F. Rio;- ARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Manually and Automatically ()perated Fire-Extinguishing Apparatus, of which the "following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of lire extinguisher containing extinguishing fluid under pressure held within a reservoir or container having a valve controlled outlet.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide an extinguisher designed particularly for mounting with its lower end flush with the ceiling of an enclosure whereby the container is concealed, adapting the installation for substantially universal use; to provide a construction wherein a weighted member is associated with the valve stem through a flexible connection whereby on the release of the suspending means the weighted member is in motion prior to acting on the valve stem, thus insuring its positive operation.

A further object is to provide a means for suspending the weighted member which is capable of either being manually released, or automatically released, in accordance with the room temperature A further object is to provide a novel form of mounting means for the receptacle or container whereby the same may be quickly positioned or removed from its mounting, also to provide a novel form oi spreader frictionally mounted on the outlet or nozzle.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination oat parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claim hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

To more fully comprehend the invention, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in section through a structure floor and ceiling illustrating our invention in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the spreader, and

Figure 3 is a broken detail view n side elevation, illustrating the mounting collar.

Referring more particularly to the several views of the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts, 1 indicates the ceiling or top wall ct an enclosure, and within an opening 2 therein is adapted for reception the receptacle or container 3 of suilicient strength to contain an extinguishing fluid preferably liquid un der pressure.

It desirable, the receptacle or container at its upper end may be received in an opening 4t in the floor or false wall 5, and said receptacle or container is provided with a flange 6 through which pass securing means 7.

From the base of the receptacle or container 3 extends the discharge spout or nozzle 8, the passage of fluid through which is controlled by a valve 9, to the stem 10 of which is coupled, as at 11, an arm 12 preterably of considerable length, and this arm, together with the stem, are illustrated to assume a substantially horizontal position when the valve is closed, and a vertical position when the valve is open. illustrated as being connected with the end of the arm 12 by a chain 13 is a weighted member in the form of a ball 14: carrying an eye 15 which mounts a fusible link 16. The weighted member or ball 14 is maintained in suspended or inoperative position at a point in approximate parallel alignment with the arm 12 when the same is in a horizontal position by the hook 1Z pivoted to an eye 18 mounted in the ceiling 1. The hook passes through a fusible link 16 as in the drawing, and at one portion has attached thereto an operating rope or cable 19 which preferably passes through an eye 20. It will be observed that when it is desired to manually release the valve 9, it is only necessary to pull the cable 19, at which time the hook 17 will be released from the fusible link 16 and the weighted member will be permitted to drop and gain momentum prior to the chain 13 tightening for operating the valve stem 10. Automatic operation by the rising of the temperature of the enclosure causes a fusing of the link 16, which in turn releases the weighted member or ball 14 which operates as heretofore described.

To spread or diffuse the stream issuing from the nozzle 8, we prefer to position on the nozzle a spreading apparatus which consists preferably in a conical member 21 mounted to rotate on a vertical spindle 22, the apex 23 oi the cone being in alignment with and a short distance from the discharge end of the nozzle 8. 611 its surface the cone is formed with perforations which permit a portion of the fluid to pass through the surface of the cone or distributor, and radiating from its surface are the spiral distributing vanes 25 which cause a rotation of the cone when the fluid issuing from tie nozzle impinges against the sa ne. At its base the cone is formed with lateral flanges 26, which also assist in spreading the fluid during tho rotation oi th cone 2i. Positioned over the lower end of the nozzle 8 and frictionally engaging the same is a coupling 27 mounting the ll'dl'i'lt) 28 upwardly from the lower inen'iber 29 of which extends the member 22. illustrated in Figure 3, the receptacle or container 3 is provided with lateral pins 30 disposed radially from its upper end and which pins are adapted for reception within the inverted l. or bayonet slot 31 formed in the side flange 32 of a mounting cup or inemleer the top wall 33 of which is adapted for reception 1 ,esaeee within the opening 4 if this form of mounting is desired to be used.

l Vith the employment of the latter mounting for the receptacle or container, it will be observed that the receptacle or container can be readily removed from its fixed position and employed as a portable extinguisher by imparting a slight rotation to the memher to release it from its mounting cup, after which the coupling 11 is detached, and if desired, the frame 28, together with the distributor, is removed from the nozzle 8.

We claim A fire extinguisher including. a fixed fluid container provided With a controlled outlet, includin a valve having a stem, a rigid arm detachahly secured at one end to the end of said valve stem, a flexible connection secured at one end to the free end of said arm, a Weight secured to the other end of said flexible connection, a fusible link carried by said Weight a pivotally suspended hook for passing through said fusible link for suspending said weighted member at a point beyond and in a plane substantially parallel with the end or said arm when said valve is closed, and means for operating the hook to withdraw the same from the link.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

JAMES CASH. LESLIE F. RICHARDS. 

